Learn to use Present Perfect tense with 'for' and 'since' to talk about duration, unfinished time periods, and life experiences.
Use Present Perfect with 'for' and 'since' to talk about actions that started in the past and continue to the present.
FOR + a period of time. Shows how long a situation has lasted up to now.
Not just present perfect
'For' can also be used with past simple for completed durations: 'I worked there for five years.' (and left). But with present perfect, the situation is still continuing.
We use Present Perfect with 'for' and 'since' to talk about actions that started in the past and continue to the present.
✓ Duration of time
✓ How long something has happened
✓ for 5 minutes, for 2 hours, for 3 days
✓ for a week, for a month, for years
✓ Starting point in time
✓ When something began
✓ since 9 AM, since Monday, since January
✓ since 2020, since last week, since I was young
FOR + period of time (how long) | SINCE + point in time (when it started)
✓ I have lived here for 3 years. (period = 3 years)
✓ I have lived here since 2020. (point = 2020)
✓ She has worked here for 2 months. (period = 2 months)
✓ She has worked here since June. (point = June)
Maria has lived in London for seven years. She moved there since 2017 — wait, that's wrong! She has lived there since 2017.
She has worked as a nurse for five years, and she has been at the same hospital since 2019.
Maria has known her best friend, Anna, for a long time — they have been friends since they were children.
Maria loves London. She has had her little flat for three years, and she has been happy there since the day she moved in.
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Here are common time expressions used with 'for' and 'since' at A2 level.
| Time Period | Example Sentence |
|---|---|
| for five minutes | I have waited for five minutes. |
| for two hours | She has slept for two hours. |
| for three days | We have been here for three days. |
| for a week | He has been sick for a week. |
| for two months | They have lived there for two months. |
| for a year | I have studied for a year. |
| for a long time | We have known each other for a long time. |
| for ages | I haven't seen you for ages! |
| Starting Point | Example Sentence |
|---|---|
| since 9 o'clock | I have been here since 9 o'clock. |
| since Monday | She has been absent since Monday. |
| since January | It has been cold since January. |
| since 2020 | He has worked here since 2020. |
| since last week | We have had this car since last week. |
| since yesterday | I haven't eaten since yesterday. |
| since I was a child | I have loved music since I was a child. |
| since last summer | They have been married since last summer. |
| Common Verb | Meaning | Example with For/Since |
|---|---|---|
| live | reside in a place | I have lived here for 3 years. |
| work | have a job | She has worked here since 2019. |
| know | be familiar with | We have known each other for ages. |
| have | possess | He has had this phone for 2 years. |
| study | learn | I have studied English for 5 years. |
| be | exist in a state | They have been married for 10 years. |
| wait | stay in expectation | We have waited for an hour. |
| play | participate in sport/game | He has played football since childhood. |
✓ Present Perfect with for/since shows unfinished time (still true now)
✓ For negative sentences: haven't/hasn't + past participle + for/since
✓ Use been with places and states: "I have been here for 2 hours"
✓ How long questions: "How long have you lived here?" "I have lived here for 3 years."
Complete with 'for' or 'since':
1. I have studied English __________ two years.
2. She has worked here __________ 2018.
3. We have lived here __________ six months.
4. He has had a car __________ last Christmas.
1. I have studied English for two years.
2. She has worked here since 2018.
3. We have lived here for six months.
4. He has had a car since last Christmas.
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Understanding the difference between 'for' and 'since' is the most important part of this lesson.
✓ "How long have you lived here?" → "I have lived here for 3 years."
✓ "How long have you studied English?" → "I have studied English for 5 years."
✓ "How long have you had that phone?" → "I have had it for 6 months."
✓ for 5 minutes, for 2 hours, for 3 days
✓ for a week, for a month, for a year
✓ for a long time, for ages, for many years
✓ for most of my life, for half an hour
✓ "When did you start working here?" → "I have worked here since 2020."
✓ "When did you move to this city?" → "I have lived here since January."
✓ "When did you get that car?" → "I have had it since last summer."
✓ since 9 AM, since Monday, since yesterday
✓ since January, since 2020, since last year
✓ since I was a child, since we met
✓ since last week, since last month, since Christmas
✓ PERIOD of time → use FOR
✓ POINT in time → use SINCE
✓ Examples:
• 3 years = period → for 3 years
• 2020 = point → since 2020
• Monday = point → since Monday
• a week = period → for a week
✓ If you can measure it (2 hours, 3 days, 5 years) → use FOR
✓ If it's a specific date/time (Monday, 2020, last week) → use SINCE
✓ Remember: "for a long time" is a period, "since I was young" is a point
Want to try a Present Perfect with For/Since quiz?
Practice with multiple choice questions
See how Present Perfect with for/since is used in different real-life situations.
"I have lived in this city for 5 years."
"We have been neighbors since 2019."
"They have been married for 10 years."
"I have known her since we were children."
"I have lived in London for 3 years, and I have known my best friend since I moved here."
"She has worked here for 2 years."
"He has been a teacher since 2015."
"I have studied English for 5 years."
"We have had this project since last month."
"I have worked at this company for 3 years, and I have been the manager since January."
"I have played tennis for 2 years."
"She has danced since she was 5."
"We have had this hobby for a long time."
"He has had this car for 3 years."
"I have owned this book since 2018."
"They have had a dog since last Christmas."
"I have played guitar for 4 years, and I have had this guitar since my birthday last year."
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Ready to test your Present Perfect with For/Since knowledge?
Challenge yourself with fill-in-the-blank exercises
❌ I live here since 2020.
✓ I have lived here since 2020.
Use Present Perfect (have/has + past participle) with for/since, not Simple Present
❌ She works here for two years.
✓ She has worked here for two years.
Use Present Perfect for actions that started in the past and continue to now
❌ I have this car since last year.
✓ I have had this car since last year.
'Have' needs past participle 'had' in Present Perfect
❌ We are married for 5 years.
✓ We have been married for 5 years.
Use 'have been' (not 'are') with for/since for states
❌ I know her for a long time.
✓ I have known her for a long time.
'Know' needs past participle 'known' in Present Perfect
❌ He has worked here since two years.
✓ He has worked here for two years.
Use 'for' with periods of time, 'since' with starting points
Master Present Perfect with For/Since sentence building!
Drag and drop words to form correct sentences
Learn effective strategies for mastering Present Perfect with for/since.
✓ FOR periods: for 5 minutes, for 2 hours, for 3 days, for a week
✓ SINCE points: since Monday, since 2020, since last week, since I was young
✓ Create flashcards with examples
✓ How long have you lived in your current home?
✓ How long have you studied English?
✓ How long have you had your phone?
✓ When did you start your current job?
✓ Change 'for' to 'since' and vice versa:
• I have lived here for 3 years. → I have lived here since 2020.
• She has worked here since 2019. → She has worked here for 4 years.
✓ Practice with different verbs and time expressions
✓ Practice 'How long...?' questions with a partner
✓ Ask about real situations in your life
✓ Use both affirmative and negative answers
1. I have studied English __________ three years.
2. She has lived here __________ 2018.
3. We have been friends __________ we were children.
4. He has had that car __________ six months.
5. They have been married __________ last June.
6. I have waited __________ twenty minutes.
1. I have studied English for three years.
2. She has lived here since 2018.
3. We have been friends since we were children.
4. He has had that car for six months.
5. They have been married since last June.
6. I have waited for twenty minutes.
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I have lived here for five years.
She has worked here since 2020.
We have known each other for a long time.
He has had this car since last summer.
They have been married for ten years.
I haven't seen her since Monday.
She has studied English for two years.
We have waited here for an hour.
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